Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction (ALTER)

Project time period:

2018-2020

 

Project Description:

The Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction project, or ALTER for short, focuses on establishing public-private partnerships to understand and address flood risks that may stem from water and mining dam failures. Know-how, technologies and experience from the European Union will be transferred to Armenia. Activities will stress the importance of full cooperation between local communities, non-governmental organizations, government ministries, and private-sector companies. Project’s duration is 24 months and is co-financed by the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection Directorate.

The project will focus on three pilot areas where dams and other activities present risks to local communities. The areas are the Akhtala and Teghut areas of Lori Marz along the Shamlugh river, the Vorotan Cascade and its associated dams in the Syunik region, and the Kapan and Voghji river basin of Syunik region.

Alexander Arakelyan, Project Coordinator
AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
Email: alexander.arakelyan[at]aua.am, ace[at]aua.am

Sean Reynolds, Researcher
AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
Email: sreynolds[at]aua.am, ace[at]aua.am

Aghavni Harutyunyan, Researcher
AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
Email: a.harutyunyan[at]aua.am, ace[at]aua.am
Phone: +374 60 612 687

ALTER WORK PACKAGES & KEY DELIVERABLES
RAISING AWARENESS AND DISSEMINATION CAMPAIGNS: The American University of Armenia’s Center for Responsible Mining led activities related to awareness raising and dissemination. This activity focused on maximizing the project’s outcomes by communicating project results to a wide range of relevant audiences including local stakeholders, communities, and the general public.
Key Deliverables include:
A Communication Plan for the project.
A fully developed Project Identity including a website, logos, and other branding materials.
A variety of dissemination and communication tools including project leaflets, press releases, popular articles, and project social media presence.
The organization of a training workshop and a summer school targeted at early career scientists and civil protection personnel.
A final dissemination report in multiple languages covering the accomplishments and lessons learned for the project.
BEST PRACTICES ON RESILIENCE FOR CITIES & AREAS WITH DAMS AGAINST EARTHQUAKE ORIGINATED FLOODSL: In this work package, experts from the European University of Cyprus worked to identify the most suitable best practices on risks related to dams in earthquake zones. They analyzed past events for their similarities to project areas in and adapt these practices for Armenia. The broader end goal of this work package was to develop practices that can be adopted across Armenia.
Key Deliverables include:
A questionnaire on the collection and analysis of best practices.
A methodology on adaptation and adoption of best practices as well as a document detailing the best practices collected.
INCREASING RESILIENCE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH SMALL SCALE EXERCISE & TRAINING: This multifaceted work package utilized the best practices established in the previous work package. It was led by Armenia’s Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, known primarily in Armenia as ARNAP. Specifically, ARNAP organized trainings, small-scale exercises, and workshops that brought together local communities and the private companies who manage dam infrastructure.
Key Deliverables include:
Signed agreements on Public-Private partnerships.
A documentation package aimed at improved local communities resilience.
3 training programs and training materials related to best practices.
Small scale exercises in each of the 3 project areas based on realistic scenarios including all materials.
TRANSFER OF METHODS, TOOLS, KNOWHOW & EXPERIENCE FOR RISK PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT: The Bulgarian National Academy of Science’s Center for National Security and Defense Research led the fourth work package of the ALTER project. This work package focused on the transfer of methods, tools, and experience for risk preparedness and management. Specifically, the package focused on providing tools and strategies to assist in decision making by local government leaders. These tools were customized to address the specific needs and challenges of Armenia.
Key Deliverables include:
A package of sensors to monitor dam stability and integrate into existing warning systems.
A Web GIS system to assist non-technical users in decision making.
Selection and setup of flood evolution prediction software.
A web tool for supporting evacuations in case of flood.
A web tool for supporting the provision of goods post-flood.

The project partners include:
National Observatory of Athens’ (NOA) Institute of Geodynamics (Lead Partner);
European University of Cyprus’ Centre of Excellence in Risk and Decision Science;
Bulgarian Academy of Science’s Center for National Security and Defense Research;
American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Center for Responsible Mining; and
Armenia’s National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (known by its Armenian acronym ARNAP).

Funding: European Union Civil Protection